While shared services are fairly common in Kent and Medway and even more so in internal audit, there are a few things which make ours stand out. We merged four teams from two specialisms, from different tiers of local government and got a new service up and running in less than 10 months.

Just over a year ago I was working for Gravesham and managed its internal audit and fraud investigations teams. I knew my opposite number at Medway had left but I had no reason to leave Gravesham so didn't apply for the job when it was advertised.